Control method and control circuit for switch in switching power supply

ABSTRACT

A control circuit for driving a power switch in a switching power supply can include: a start-up transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the power switch, and a source coupled to a drain voltage detecting circuit; a gate voltage detecting circuit configured to detect a gate voltage of the power switch, to compare the gate voltage against a first threshold voltage, and to change an on drive current and an off drive current in response thereto; and the drain voltage detecting circuit being configured to detect a drain voltage of the power switch, to compare the drain voltage against a second threshold voltage, and to change the on drive current and the off drive current in response thereto.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201510853909.6, filed on Nov. 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of power electronics, and more particularly to control methods and circuits for a switch in a switching power supply.

BACKGROUND

Driving the gate of a main power switch in a switching power supply may have a great impact on power performance. Serious electromagnetic interference (EMI) may result in because of relatively large di/dt and dv/dt of the main power switch if the driving capacity is too strong, (e.g., the driving current is too large). Also, switching losses may increase because of slow switching speeds due to relatively large switching delays of the main power switch if the driving capacity is too weak (e.g., the driving current is too small).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example driving control circuit for a switch.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of example operation of the circuit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example control circuit for driving a switch in a switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of example operation of a control circuit for driving a switch in a switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference may now be made in detail to particular embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention may be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it may be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, processes, components, structures, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is a schematic block diagram of an example driving control circuit for a switch. The way of driving the gate of the main power switch can be optimized in order to reduce the electromagnetic interference (EMI) and switching losses. In this example, gate driving resistor R1 can be adjusted to regulate the ability of driving the gate on and off, or the gate driving resistor R1 may be used to regulate the ability of driving the gate on and another gate driving resistor R2 can be used to regulate the ability of driving the gate off.

Referring now to FIG. 2, shown is a waveform diagram of example operation of the circuit of FIG. 1. In this example, V_(PWM) is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal of a controller, V_(DRV) is a driving signal generated by a driving circuit, V_(Gate) is a gate driving signal obtained via a driving resistor, and V_(Miller) is a Miller plateau voltage of the switch. The “Miller plateau” refers to a flat, horizontal portion in the gate charge characteristic of a MOS transistor. When the device switches, the gate voltage can be clamped to the plateau voltage until sufficient charge has been added or removed for the device to switch. As such, the Miller plateau can be utilized in estimating driving requirements and calculating the gate drive resistor for a given switching time.

The EMI performance can be relatively good while power losses of switch S1 may be relatively large when both resistors R1 and R2 are relatively large. However, power losses of switch S1 can be relatively small while the EMI performance may be relatively poor when both resistors R1 and R2 are relatively small. Therefore, this approach can be a compromise or trade-off between EMI interference and switching losses.

In particular embodiments, a control method of sectional driving of the gate of a switch is provided. However, since the sectional drive may be based on the detection and comparison of a Miller plateau voltage of the switch, and it can be difficult to detect the Miller plateau voltage, the voltage difference between Miller plateau voltages of different switches may be very different. Therefore, the approximate value of the Miller plateau voltage can be set in advance, and the sectional drive can be carried out based on the approximate value. If the set value is lower than the actual Miller plateau voltage, a relatively large di/dt can occur, which may lead to relatively poor EMI performance. If the set value is higher than the actual Miller plateau voltage, the driving current into the gate can become smaller, which may result in slower switching speeds and larger switching losses.

In one embodiment, a control circuit for driving a power switch in a switching power supply, can include: (i) a start-up transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the power switch, and a source coupled to a drain voltage detecting circuit; (ii) a gate voltage detecting circuit configured to detect a gate voltage of the power switch, to compare the gate voltage against a first threshold voltage, and to change an on drive current and an off drive current in response thereto; and (iii) the drain voltage detecting circuit being configured to detect a drain voltage of the power switch, to compare the drain voltage against a second threshold voltage, and to change the on drive current and the off drive current in response thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a schematic block diagram of an example control circuit for driving a switch in a switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this particular example, the switching power supply may include power switch S1, and the control circuit for driving power switch S1 may be coupled between a gate “Gate” and a drain “Drain” of power switch S1. The control circuit can include start-up transistor S2, a gate voltage detecting circuit, a drain voltage detecting circuit, an on-current control circuit, an off-current control circuit, and a driving circuit.

The start-up transistor S2 may have drain D_S2 coupled to the drain of the power switch S1, source S_S2 coupled to a drain voltage detecting circuit, and gate G_S2 coupled to a power supply control circuit. For example, start-up transistor S2 can be an N-channel depletion-mode transistor for starting up the control circuit under a high voltage, and an on voltage threshold value V_(TH) may be a negative value. When the control circuit is started, start-up transistor S2 can be turned on to supply power for the control circuit.

When the start-up phase completes, gate G_S2 of start-up transistor S2 may be set to a low level, and source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of start-up transistor S2 can be clamped to −V_(TH) when drain voltage V_(HV) of start-up transistor S2 is larger (e.g., in absolute value) than −V_(TH). Source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) can be equal to drain voltage V_(HV) when drain voltage V_(HV) is smaller (e.g., in absolute value) than −V_(TH). This may be determined by the self-characteristic of start-up transistor S2, because the drains of start-up transistor S2 and power switch S1 are coupled together, so the drain voltage of power switch S1 can be also V_(HV). It should be noted that the term “equal” as used herein may allow for a certain error and is not limited to completely and exactly being equal.

The drain voltage detecting circuit can indirectly detect the drain voltage of S2, that is, the drain voltage of S1. Thus, the drain voltage detecting circuit can optimize the sectional drive of S1 according to the relationship of di/dt, dv/dt, and the EMI performance. The gate voltage detecting circuit can detect gate voltage V_(DRV) (e.g., the driving voltage of S1) of power transistor S1, and compare it against threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH1) (the threshold voltage can be set to close to the on threshold voltage of power switch S1) in accordance with high-low level states of a PWM signal. The on-current control circuit and the off-current control circuit can be controlled according to the comparison result, in order to accordingly change the on-drive current and the off-drive current.

The drain voltage detecting circuit can detect the drain voltage of power switch S1 by detecting the source voltage of start-up transistor S2, and can compare it against threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2) in accordance with the high-low level states of the PWM signal. The on-current control circuit and the off-current control circuit can be controlled according to the comparison result, in order to accordingly change the on-drive current and the off-drive current. For example, the comparison between drain voltage of S1 and threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2) can be done by a comparator. However, in certain embodiments, the threshold voltage of an inverter itself can be used to determine the magnitude of the divided voltage signal, which may also realize the logic conversion of the inverter.

The on-current control circuit can receive gate detection signal V_(G) _(_) _(det1) output by the gate voltage detecting circuit, and drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det1) output by the drain voltage detecting circuit, and may generate on-current control signal I_(DRV) _(_) _(ON). The off-current control circuit can receive gate detection signal V_(G) _(_) _(det2) output from the gate voltage detecting circuit, and drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det2) output by the drain voltage detecting circuit, and may generate off-current control signal I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF). The driving circuit can receive on-current control signal I_(DRV) _(_) _(ON) and off-current control signal I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF), and may generate corresponding on-driving and off-driving currents to the gate of the power switch.

The drain voltage detecting circuit can include a voltage divider circuit that includes resistors R2 and R3 and receives source voltage S_S2 of the start-up transistor, and switch S3 can output divided voltage signal FB. Voltage divider signal FB may be compared against a threshold characterization voltage indicative of threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2), in order to detect the magnitude of the drain voltage to obtain drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det1) and drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det2).

Switch S3 can connect in series with the voltage divider circuit, and switch S3 can be turned on and off in accordance with the PWM signal and the drain detection signal. The drain voltage detecting circuit can also include an inverter with an input to receive divided voltage signal FB. Divided voltage signal FB may be compared against the voltage threshold value of the inverter itself (e.g., represents that source voltage S_S2 of the start-up transistor can be compared against threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2)), to achieve a comparison of power transistor S1 and threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2), in order to output the drain detection signal at the output of the inverter.

The output of the inverter can connect with the first input of a NOR-gate, and the PWM signal may be input to the second input of the NOR-gate. The output of the NOR-gate can connect with reset terminal R of the RS flip-flop (e.g., the signal output from the output terminal of the NOR-gate can be used as drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det2)). The PWM signal may be also input to set terminal S of the RS flip-flop, and the output of the RS flip-flop can connect with the control terminal of switch S3. The output terminal of the inverter and the PWM signal may be respectively connected to the two input terminals of an AND-gate, and drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det1) can be output by the AND-gate.

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a power switch in a switching power supply, can include: (i) using, in a turn-on phase when a gate voltage of the power switch is larger than a first threshold voltage, a small on drive current to reduce a current change rate of the power switch during a commutation stage in the switching power supply; (ii) detecting, in the turn-on phase, a drain voltage of the power switch, and adopting a large on drive current to accelerate a turn-on speed of the power switch when the drain voltage drops to a second threshold voltage; (iii) controlling, in a turn-off phase when an off drive current rises to a large off drive current or switches to a large off drive current, the gate voltage to rapidly decrease to speed up a turning-off speed; and (iv) detecting, in the turn-off phase when the drain voltage is larger than the second threshold voltage, the drain voltage of the power switch and adopting a small off drive current to reduce a current change rate and a drain voltage change rate of the power switch during the commutation stage.

Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is a waveform diagram of example operation of a control circuit for driving a switch in a switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This diagram shows example waveforms of each signal, as well as the trend of the waveform at the corresponding time. The turn-on process of the power transistor S1 can be as follows. At time t₁, the PWM signal may go high, gate voltage V_(G) _(_) _(S3) of switch S3 can go high, and S3 may begin conducting. The gate voltage detecting circuit can detect the gate voltage (e.g., driving voltage V_(DRV) of power transistor S1), and when driving voltage V_(DRV) is smaller than threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH1), the on-current control circuit can generate relatively large on-driving current I_(DRV) _(_) _(ON). This can result in driving voltage V_(DRV) rapidly rising, so as to shorten the delay time before turning on the switch.

At time t₂, driving voltage V_(DRV) can rise to reach a level of threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH1), and after the gate voltage detecting circuit detects it, the on-current control circuit may generate relatively small drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(ON) in order to reduce di/dt (e.g., the current change rate) of the power device during commutation, thereby improving the EMI performance of the power supply. A “commutation” mode or stage is whereby the power device transitions from an off-state to an on-state, or vice versa.

At time t₃, driving voltage V_(DRV) can be equal to Miller plateau voltage V_(Miller) of power transistor S1. In this process, without detecting Miller plateau voltage V_(Miller), the drain voltage V_(HV) of power transistor S1 can begin to decrease, and the smaller drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(ON) may result in a reduced voltage change rate dv/dt of power transistor S1, thereby improving the EMI performance. When V_(HV) falls below the on threshold voltage −V_(TH) of depletion mode transistor S2, source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of S2 can begin to decrease.

At time t₄, source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of S2 (i.e., drain voltage V_(HV) of S1, S2) can drop below threshold voltage V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2), so the voltage obtained by dividing V_(S) _(_) _(S2) via resistors R2, R3 may be smaller than the threshold value of the inverter. The output of the inverter can go high, and drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det1) generated by the drain voltage detection circuit can go high. The on-current control circuit can detect a rising edge signal of V_(D) _(_) _(det1), and may generate a relatively large drive current, so as to reduce the influence of the Miller effect, to speed up the turning-on speed of power transistor S1, and to reduce the turning on losses. At time t₅, the turn-on process can be completed, and drive current I_(DRVON) may drop to zero.

The turn off process of Si can be as follows. At time t₆, the PWM signal can go low, and the off-current control circuit can control off drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF) to gradually increase from zero. Thus, drive voltage V_(DRV) can gradually decrease (or an off drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF) with a constant small value may cause drive voltage V_(DRV) to decrease gradually), in order to reduce di/dt during commutation, and to improve EMI performance.

At time t₇, off drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF) may rise to a large drive current (or switches from an initial small off drive current to the large off drive current at time t₇), and relatively large drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF) can control drive voltage V_(DRV) to fall rapidly to accelerate the turn-off speed of power transistor S1, and to reduce the turn-off losses. When V_(DRV) drops to the Miller plateau voltage V_(Miller) of power transistor S1, drain voltage V_(HV) of power transistor S1 can begin to rise, and source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of S2 can also begin to rise.

At time t₈, V_(S) _(_) _(S2) can rise above segment threshold value V_(SD) _(_) _(TH2). The voltage obtained by dividing source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of S2 via resistors R2 and R3 may be larger than the threshold value of the connected inverter, and the output of the inverter may go low. Drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det2) generated by the drain voltage detecting circuit can go high, gate voltage V_(G) _(_) _(S3) of switch S3 can go low, and S3 can be turned off. At this time, the off current control circuit can detect the rising edge signal of drain detection signal V_(D) _(_) _(det2) to generate a smaller off drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF), such that V_(DRV) may decrease to reduce di/dt of the power device during commutation, and dv/dt of the drain voltage of power switch S1, thereby improving the EMI performance. When V_(HV) rises above the on threshold voltage −V_(TH) of depletion mode transistor S2, source voltage V_(S) _(_) _(S2) of S2 may be clamped to −V_(TH), where −V_(TH) here can be a third threshold voltage.

At time t₉, when the gate voltage detecting circuit detects that drive voltage V_(DRV) is smaller than segment threshold value V_(SD) _(_) _(TH1), the off current control circuit can again generate a relatively large off drive current I_(DRV) _(_) _(OFF), such that V_(DRV) may rapidly decrease to reduce the falling delay time of V_(DRV) after power transistor S1 is turned off. At time t₁₀, the shutdown process may be completed, and drive current I_(DRV) OFF can be reduced to zero.

It should be noted that the terms “large” and “small” as used herein, such as with respect to “large on drive current,” “large off drive current,” “small on drive current,” and “small off drive current” are relative descriptors, and are not limited to any specific amplitude.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with modifications as are suited to particular use(s) contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A method of controlling a power switch in a switching power supply, the method comprising: a) using a first drive current to drive said power switch when a gate voltage of said power switch is less than a first threshold voltage or when a drain voltage of said power switch is less than a second threshold voltage; and b) using a second drive current to drive said power switch when said drain voltage of said power switch is greater than said second threshold voltage, wherein said first drive current is greater than said second drive current.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: a) during a turning-off phase of said power switch, when said drain voltage of said power switch is less than said second threshold voltage, said drive current gradually rises from zero to said first drive current at a first stage to reduce a current change rate of said power switch; and b) said drive current keeps at said first drive current at a second stage to accelerate a turn-off speed of said power switch.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein during a turning-on phase of said power switch, when said gate voltage is greater than said first threshold voltage and less than a Miller plateau voltage of said power switch, said second drive current is adopted to reduce said drain voltage change rate of said power switch.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein said first drive current is configured to shorten a delay time before turning on or after turning off said power switch when said gate voltage of said power switch is less than said first threshold voltage.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein said second drive current is configured to reduce a current change rate or a drain voltage change rate and improve the EMI property when said drain voltage of said power switch is greater than a second threshold voltage.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first drive current is configured to accelerate a turn-on or turn-off speed when said drain voltage of said power switch is less than said second threshold voltage.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein said drive current is reduced to zero after said power switch is completely turned on or off.
 21. A control circuit for driving a power switch in a switching power supply, the control circuit comprising: a) a gate voltage detecting circuit configured to detect a gate voltage of said power switch, and to compare said gate voltage against a first threshold voltage; b) a drain voltage detecting circuit configured to detect a drain voltage of said power switch, and to compare said drain voltage against a second threshold voltage; and c) a driving circuit configured to output a first drive current when said gate voltage of said power switch is less than said first threshold voltage or when said drain voltage of said power switch is less than said second threshold voltage, and to output a second drive current when said drain voltage of said power switch is greater than said second threshold voltage, wherein said first drive current is greater than said second drive current.
 22. The control circuit of claim 21, wherein said first drive current is configured to shorten a delay time before turning on or after turning off said power switch when said gate voltage of said power switch is less than said first threshold voltage;
 23. The control circuit of claim 21, wherein said second drive current is configured to reduce a current change rate or a drain voltage change rate and improve the EMI property when said drain voltage of said power switch is greater than a second threshold voltage.
 24. The control circuit of claim 21, wherein said first drive current is configured to accelerate a turn-on or turn-off speed when said drain voltage of said power switch is less than said second threshold voltage.
 25. The control circuit of claim 21, wherein said control circuit comprises a start-up transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of said power switch, and a source coupled to a drain voltage detecting circuit.
 26. The control circuit of claim 25, wherein a gate of said start-up transistor is set to a low level after said start-up transistor is turned on, a source voltage of said start-up transistor is clamped to a third threshold voltage when a drain voltage of said start-up transistor is greater than said third threshold voltage, and said source voltage and said drain voltage are maintained as consistent with each other when said drain voltage of said start-up transistor is less than said third threshold voltage.
 27. The control circuit of claim 21, wherein said drain voltage of said power switch is detected by detecting a drain voltage of said start-up transistor through said drain voltage detecting circuit.
 28. The control circuit of claim 21, further comprising: a) an on current control circuit configured to receive a first gate detection signal from said gate voltage detecting circuit and a first drain detection signal from said drain voltage detecting circuit, and to generate an on current control signal; b) an off current control circuit configured to receive a second gate detection signal from said gate voltage detecting circuit and a second drain detection signal from said drain voltage detecting circuit, and to generate an off current control signal; and c) said driving circuit being configured to receive said on current control signal and said off current control signal, and to generate said first drive current or said second drive current to said gate of said power switch in response thereto.
 29. The control circuit of claim 26, wherein: a) said start-up transistor comprises an N-channel depletion mode transistor having an on voltage threshold value of a negative value; and b) said third threshold voltage is equal to an absolute value of said on voltage threshold value of said N-channel depletion mode transistor.
 30. The control circuit of claim 26, wherein said drain voltage detecting circuit comprises a voltage divider circuit configured to: a) receive said source voltage of said start-up transistor; b) generate a divided voltage signal for comparison against a threshold characterization voltage indicative of said second threshold voltage; and c) detect a magnitude of said drain voltage to obtain said first and second drain detection signals.
 31. The control circuit of claim 30, wherein said drain voltage detecting circuit further comprises a third switch coupled in series with said voltage divider circuit, and being controlled according to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and a drain detection signal.
 32. The control circuit of claim 30, wherein said drain voltage detecting circuit further comprises an inverter having an input terminal configured to receive said divided voltage signal for comparison against a voltage threshold value of said inverter, and to generate said drain detection signal at an output terminal of said inverter. 